Kuch din pehle, European Union or China ne electric cars ko leke ek common framework par agreement kiya, jisme China se aane wali EVs ke liye ek minimum price set hoga. Isse October 2024 ke end mein Brussels ne jo tariffs impose kiye the, unki jahgah le li jaayegi. Wo tariffs isliye lagaye gaye the because investigation mein pata chala tha ki Chinese government apni EV companies ko approx. unlimited subsidies de rahi thi.
Haan, agar hum Europe ka map or 2025 ka market share dekhein, then ek interesting cheez saamne aati hai. Jahan China ka sabse zyada impact dikha, whether tariffs lage ho ya nahi (because profit margins reduce karke unko absorb kar liya), wo electric vehicles mein nahi tha. Basically, unka big effect hybrid models mein tha, especially plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
Europe is examining Chinese Hybrids
Spain ke case mein specifically dekha jaye then 2025 mein sabse zyada register hone wali PHEV BYD Seal U DM-i thi, jiska 7.56% market share tha is propulsion category mein.
Iske baad MG HS aayi 6.79% ke saath, or phir Toyota C-HR, ford Kuga, Mercedes GLC jaise models ka number aata hai.
Interestingly, China-origin wali ek or SUV JAECOO 7 SHS (Chery group) ne bhi kaafi strong performance show ki, ye Hyundai Tucson or Volkswagen Tiguan jaise well established SUVs se bhi ahead rahi, agar sirf PHEV registrations ko dekha jaye.
China ke hybrid cars ke exports Europe mein 2025 ke during 155% increase hue, whereas battery electric vehicles sirf 12% grow hue. Globally bhi hybrid export 2024 ke comparison mein 230% jump kar gaye, compared to pure electric cars jo around 66.7% hi increase hue. Ye data China Association of Automobile Manufacturers ka hai. Is trend ne European Union ke liye kaafi questions raise kar diye hai.
Apply the measure to Hybrids from China
EU ke inside, industrial Strategy or Prosperity ke Executive Vice-President Stephane Sejourne ne already ye hint diya hai ki China se import hone wali hybrid cars par bhi tariffs lag sakte hai. Unka kehna hai ki ye cars China mein almost same benefits or conditions ka benefit leti hai jaise EVs, or wahan similar enviornment mein manufcture hoti hai, because China mein hybrids ko bhi "new energy vehicles" consider kiya jata hai.
European Commissioner Sejourne ka believe hai ki European car makers ko hybrid cars ke case mein bhi protection milni chahiye, especially un models se jo subsidy ke advantages ke saath ban rahe hai, same waise hi jaise electric vehicles ke case mein hota hai. Pehle Chines manufacturers ka European market mein share kaafi small tha, but aaj wo increase hokar around 10% ho gaya hai.
Increased Tariffs? It's more complicated than that
Abhi at present koi investigation chal nahi rahi hai, trade spokesperson Olof Gill ke according. And yes, agar tariffs impose hote hai, then World Trade Organization ke rules ke according first investigation karni padti hai, jaise 2 years pehle kiya gaya tha.
Isse kaafi questions bhi raise hote hai. Sabse pehla ye ki kya situation BEVs wali jaisi ho sakti hai agar tariffs bhi waise hi impose ho? Means, kya Chinese manufacturers phir bhi grow kar paayenge despite tariffs or limited profit margins ke, jo honestly Chinese market ki cutthroat competition ke comparison mein phir bhi thodi relief hi denge?
Effects on European companies, including those in Spain
Iska impact sirf companies par hi nahi, rather entire sector or local economy par bhi padega. Sabse clear example hai Free Trade Zone ka Ebro, jo apne models un cars par base karta hai jo China mein Chery Tiggo ke name se sell hoti hai, jaise OMODA, JAECOO, or jo Lepas abhi launch hone wali hai. PHEVs ke case mein bhi same scene hai Santana ka, because uske models Dongfeng Nissan ki cars par based hai.
Meanwhile, ab sirf Chinese made PHEVs hi Europe mein "without added value" ke saath manufacture nahi ho rahe. Jaise Renault Group iberia ke president josep Maria Recasens ne repeat kiya hai. gradually hum dekh rahe hai ki pure electric models bhi Europe mein production ke liye ready ho rahe hai, jaise Aion V or Xpeng P7 +, jo Austria ke Graz mein Magna steyr plant par build hone wale hai.
A challenging choice in a key market
Abhi ke liye ye unka strong market hai, jahan Ford Kuga or Mercedes Benz GLC jaise models market leaders rahe hai, but future mein ye change ho sakta hai. To kya yahan or strict rules laane ki zarurat hai? Ya phir ulta, Europe approved models (or unke manufacturers) par jo requirements lagi hui hai, unhe thoda relax karna hi better solution hai?